Salt & Humor

A while ago I cooked a buttercup squash and discovered that two out of the three kitties liked it.  I wasn’t actually planning to give them some because if you know one thing about cats, it is that they are finicky eaters.  Well, when I took it out of the oven and was scraping away thee skin, Yoshi and Choopey were at my feet just staring up at me, begging.  So, I put some in their dishes and was amazed at what I saw…

Little Yoch actually had seconds!

I know I have talked about how much I like massaged kale but I must tell you at least one more time.  I made this one with avocado, lemon and salt.  I promise you, it is fabulous

The combination of this dinner is one I might just have to duplicate the exact same way.  Yup, it was that good.  Avocado-massaged kale salad+ buttercup squash with tahini+ tempeh= perfect.

You know how I talked about kitties always wanting to get in the photos, well it didn’t fail this morning.

I almost forgot to mention the tasty zucchini muffins I made from ED&BV.  This morning I toasted them under the broiler in the oven. Let me just tell you about a really rad memories real quick.  My mom used to make the most fabulous sourdough biscuits (one of the best foods I have had in my whole life) and we would toast them in the oven this way.  Told you it would be real quick.  Have a great night

Why is it that some of the best meals look awful?  Sometimes, by the time I stir my salads up they look pretty weird.  Then I say, “that was the best salad ever!” Well, with a bit of a bloggers block, looking through recent photos to make a semi-decent post this morning, I noticed that some of my best eats weren’t so pretty.  I am that person who takes tons and tons of photos and then ends up deleting all but a few.  Sometimes, what looked good at the time, ends up looking terrible in my photo.  What better idea than to even share the odd stuff.  Not all post, can be my favorites right…?

When I sat down to eat this, I told Jason, the name of this salad is, “The Shit!”  He told me not to post that.  Oops, I am sorry Jason. Really though, this salad was truely, the shit! Sometimes when you are putting ingredient together you don’t really have any expectation, then you eat it and are amazed at how good it turned out.  Well yes, my friends, that is what happened to me with this. Salad: red leaf lettuce, kidney beans, grilled zucchini and yellow squash, fresh tomato, cooked millet with fresh salsa and taco seasoning, crumbled up corn chips and quacamole for dressing.  All stirred up; not so pretty, tasty though!

Tuesday night we made burgers.  Mine consisted of a grilled portabello mushroom and zucchini, tomato, mustard and lettuce with beet chips.  Beets would have been better, had I not over charred them!

Eggplant Bruschetta and Beets

Not wanting to overcook the beets again, I grilled them in the Forman grill with some yellow squash.  More exciting than that, was the eggplant bruschetta of course!  I liberally salted the eggplant in a colander and let is sweat for 30 minutes, then rinsed thoughly. Cooked in the oven on parchment paper at 375 for 40 minutes, flipping once.  After it cooled a bit, I cut it up into chunks and combined with tomato, half a juiced lemon, 1 jalapeno (it wasn’t hot), some dried basil and sea salt.  It would have been better with fresh basil, I admit.  This was one of those meals that is so good that you keep saying so, after it’s gone.  For some reason, I kept wanting more, even though I was full.  That is the beauty of making just enough for your plate sometimes.  If there aren’t leftovers, you can’t go back for seconds!

In more exciting news, I am going to the VegFest today!  I am even toting Jason along.  Can’t wait!

Did you think I forgot all about blogging? Well, I pretty much did.  I left for Reno last Wednesday and returned last night.  I had a wonderful visit with family and friends! It was a good break from blogging, but nontheless, I am stoked to be back! I was not diligent as to photo all the marvelous eats but I did snag quite a few. Coming at you fast, here we go!!!

dinner at Dad’s: turkey enchos, fish tacos, quac and beans

Jason’s amazing salsa!

Dad busy fixing his famous breakfast potatoes!

crab pan roast from the Atlantis

tofu/veggie soup from Pho 777 (this was to die for!!)

salad at Mom’s

spaghetti squash with Mom’s marinara

eggplant and brussel sprouts

All together now!

My Mom is a little rock star! She is the single most, best influence in my life! She is an amazing cook and I owe my love for cooking to her! Miss her already!!

I completely forgot to take a photo of the dinner I had at Sue and Jasons. Shoot! We had homemade cheesy polenta, steak with blue cheese on top and a green salad! OH MY! I had no idea I was going to like the steak that much!! What a treat, I must say. Thank you guys!

Get a glimpse of the generous gift basket from my brother and his girlfriend! Can you tell, they know me pretty well! Rather than list it all out, I will just remember to mention the goodies as I break into them.

Thanks Ray & Nichole!

Check out the makings of that stout! Let me just say, I did see organic coca nibs in the recipe! I am thinking a trip back for a sip will be in order!

I had such an amazing time, however, it always seems to fly by.  I miss everyone so much already! I love you ALL! I have much catching up on laundry, cleaning, petting some neglected kitties and planning a healthy(ier) dinner.  Happy Tuesday bloggies!

***GIVEAWAY*** Check out this amazing site, oh yeah, and a giveaway!

Oh hell Ya! Look what greeted me when I walked into Trader Joe’s last night.  I can’t even describe how it make me feel to see tulips in January! Soon the crocus will be popping out of the ground.  
I just love bulbs!! All of them! Maybe tulips and gladiolas would be my favorite.

I really need to start a food journal.  I have heard a lot of people say this helps them stay accountable with their eats. For the most part I think I am doing well.  I know I need to watch the nuts and nut butters though.  Just because I love them and they are good for me does not mean the calories don’t count.  At least for now, while I am trying to lose weight anyways.

I am starting to read a little bit about Body for Life. I have known than eating 5-6 meals is the way to go for a while now.I am working harder at it now. Today went like this:

-juice:beet and greens, 1/2 lime, kale, granny smith and celery

-2 tangerines and green grapes

-oats with oat bran with cinnamon, stevia and a few grape nuts

-leftover tuna, grains and raw spinach

-Fage 0% with Bear Naked protein granola and pumpkin pie spice.

-leftover stir fry

I tried a new workout tonight. One On One with Jackie. I liked it!  I don’t think my heart beat gets up as high as it does with Jillian though.  I really enjoyed the lower body part. I feel it already. I am curious how many calories I burn in a day and how different workouts that I do, effect the burn.  I want to look into getting a calorie counter.  Maybe a Garmin or a Body Bug.  Anyone have any input on these or others?

Oh bummus!! I was going to make hummus tonight.  Without paying attention, I opened a can of white beans instead of garbanzo beans.  Well, I made it anyways.  Hummus Bummus~

: can of white beans, garlic, tahini, and juice of one lemon (more lemon, the better). Because white beans are so soft, I didn’t need any olive oil. *Bonus

I almost think it was better than garbanzo bean hummus! It was even better with a mini pita chip cracker! I am stoked to say, I only had 2. I prepared this for lunch tomorrow, stir-fry was my last meal of the day.

Now, how can you pass up a winter squash when its name is Sweet Dumpling? …Not sure, cause I didn’t. It is too cute, right? I sliced it up and baked half with olive oil spray and a bit of sea salt and the other half with spray and a mixture of salt, stevia and cinnamon.  The whole house smelled like a cinnamon roll! I remember when my Mom would make a pie and have leftover crust.  She would roll out the dough and put butter, cinnamon and sugar on it, cut it into little pieces and bake.  That is what it made the house smelled like.  I swear, I think I would burn my mouth trying to eat those little things.  I couldn’t wait another second! LOVE YOU MOM!

Sorry, not a fun photo.  I am just waiting for it to cool.  It is also for lunch tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday! Goodnight~